Search

Double skin composite (DSC) shear wall is composed of two exterior steel faceplate connected to each other by connectors and infilled with concrete. In terms of axial and lateral strengths, stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity, DSC wall performs better than standard Reinforced Concrete (RC). There are two patterns DSC faceplate of DSC, namely flat and corrugated which offers significantly higher out-of-plane bending stiffness. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of faceplate configuration on cyclic behavior of DSC shear wall. Comparison was made regarding the patterns of faceplate including trapezoidal, zig-zag, and curved profiles with flat. This was followed by finite element analysis with ANSYS software to investigate the response of DSC towards cyclic loading. The results showed that among the four profiles, trapezoidal profiles had better energy dissipation and ductility ratio. Trapezoidal pattern offered several advantages in the manufacturing field, including better contact between concrete and good aesthetic appearance. Energy dissipation of DSC wall with trapezoidal faceplate was found to be 37.57%, 23%, and 42.66% more than zigzag, curve, and flat, respectively. There was a reduction in stress by providing corrugated profiles, where the maximum of 54.3% was induced in DSC wall with flat faceplate compared to trapezoidal. This showed that optimizing faceplate configuration further increased the benefits of DSC wall, offering a robust option for seismic design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the most effective leadership style for enhancing safety performance in the construction industry. Through a scientometric analysis of 114 research papers and a meta-analysis of 13 studies involving 7220 participants, it uncovers a growing body of research on safety leadership in construction and identifies safety-specific transformational leadership as the most impactful style for improving safety outcomes. The research highlights the increasing importance of safety leadership in the construction sector and reveals a trend towards safety-specific transformational leadership as the preferred approach. This leadership style emphasizes empowering and motivating employees to prioritize safety through shared values, vision, and goals. The study also emphasizes the need for enhanced collaboration among researchers and institutions, and advocates for the inclusion of studies from developing countries to ensure a comprehensive understanding of safety leadership practices globally. Additionally, the findings align with the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, and 11, underscoring the significance of fostering safe and secure working environments and promoting sustainable urbanization. This research serves as a valuable resource for construction industry stakeholders seeking to implement effective safety leadership strategies, and it lays the groundwork for further exploration in this critical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research intends to explore how gender impacts different aspects of the quality of work life, emotional intelligence, and the work–family interface among professionals in the Indian construction industry. This study employs quantitative methodology using a questionnaire survey. The questionnaires were circulated to 900 construction professionals, and 724 valid responses were received, resulting in a response rate of 80.44%. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and independent sample t-Tests. The independent samples t-Test revealed significant (p < 0.05) gender disparities in various quality of work life factors, emotional intelligence, and work–family interface. Males had a more positive perception of career growth, management, and the working environment. In contrast, females experienced higher job satisfaction, work commitment, personal satisfaction towards their workplace and personal life, a higher work–family interface, and a better work–life balance. Females also experienced a higher level of physical exhaustion and had a higher level of emotional intelligence, while males experienced a higher level of mental exhaustion. There were no significant gender differences in satisfaction towards remuneration and fringe benefits, work culture, or the level of psychological exhaustion. The findings suggest that construction industry organizations could implement policies and practices that promote equal opportunities, provide support for work–family integration, and foster a culture of emotional intelligence. This research adds to the current body of knowledge by igniting novel empirical proof of gender-based differences in the Indian construction industry. It highlights the importance of addressing these disparities to improve the quality of work life, emotional intelligence, and work–family interface among professionals in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited research exists on safety leadership and safety climate in developing countries, despite their established importance in the construction industry. This study addresses this gap by investigating how immediate superiors' safety leadership behaviours influence safety climate perceptions among construction professionals in southern India. Using a quantitative approach, the study collected valid questionnaire surveys among 279 construction professionals by convenience sampling across various construction sites. The survey revealed that safety leadership significantly and positively predicts five key safety climate factors: management's commitment to safety, safety equipment and procedures, safety training, communication and openness, and group dynamics and safety culture. These findings highlight the critical role immediate superiors play in shaping safety climate perceptions through their commitment, communication, and employee involvement. This research underscores the importance of investing in safety leadership development to improve safety outcomes, reduce accidents and injuries, and enhance regulatory compliance within the Indian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to identify and quantify the factors affecting quality of work life (QWL) among professionals in the Indian construction industry. The study employs a structured questionnaire, distributed to 900 construction professionals, yielding a response rate of 80.44%. The QWL construct was assessed through eight factors: career growth, management, job satisfaction, remuneration and fringe benefits, the work–family interface, emotional intelligence, work culture, and work commitment. Both descriptive and inferential analysis were carried out. The relative importance index method was used to rank these factors based on their relative importance. Work commitment (RII = 0.772) ranked as the most important factor, this was due to work commitment including significant items. The high ranking of this factor suggests that commitment to work is highly valued in the construction industry. The study also employed structural equation modelling to validate the association among these QWL factors. The findings reveal that job satisfaction (t = 0.765) and career growth (t = 0.751) play significant roles in QWL, suggesting that these factors should be prioritized to enhance QWL in the construction industry. The results of this study provide valuable insights for organizations, HR practitioners, and researchers in the construction industry, emphasizing the need to focus on job satisfaction and career growth to enhance QWL. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of QWL in the construction industry, offering valuable insights for organizations, HR practitioners, and researchers. Future research could adopt longitudinal study designs or qualitative methods to further explore the QWL among construction professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on Taguchi's design of experiments along with grey relational analysis (GRA) to optimize the milling parameters to minimize surface roughness, tool wear, and vibration during machining of Inconel-625 while using coconut oil as cutting fluid (CF). The experiments were conducted based on Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array (OA). Taguchi's S/N was used for identifying the optimal cutting parameter for individual response. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze the outcome of individual parameters on responses. The surface roughness was mostly influenced by feed. Flank wear was influenced by speed and the vibration was mostly influenced by the depth of cut as well as speed. The multi-response optimization was done through GRA. From GRA, the optimal parameters were identified. Further, nanoboric acid of 0.5 and 0.9 wt.% was mixed with coconut oil to enhance lubricant properties. Coconut oil with 0.5 wt.% of nanoboric acid minimizes the surface roughness and flank wear by 3.92% and 6.28% and reduces the vibration in the z -axis by 4.85%. The coconut oil with 0.5 wt.% of nanoboric acid performs better than coconut oil with 0.9 wt.% of nano boric acid and base oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in today's construction industry has obliged the civil engineers in searching for more efficient and durable alternatives far beyond the limitations of the conventional brick production. Several studies conducted to use the sludge into making of building materials. The sewage treatment plant (STP) sludge is extremely close to the brick clay in chemical composition. The study made with an attempt of experimental investigation of reusing the waste products like STP sludge by making suitable bricks for building construction. It gives a solution for disposal of sludge into open land without legal permission that increases pollution load and also reduces the problems like cost expenditure involves in handling the waste management and its effect on environment. The overall objective is to incorporate the huge quantity of STP sludge generated in the sewage treatment plant located at SRM University campus. The characteristics of the sludge have been studied to suit the replacement of clay/silt combination in making of bricks with the major factors like temperature resistance and water absorption without compromising the strength of the bricks. The mix proportion with corresponding percentage of sludge content as a replacement in making the good product bricks at the range of 10 to 30% of mass for a 13 to 15% optimum moisture content prepared in the mixture and burning at 950°C for 6 hrs. It was observed that 10% of sludge content in the sludge-clay bricks results high compressive strength when compared to conventional clay bricks. It was concluded that the stabilized sludge can be utilized as brick material without affecting the prescribed strength by controlling the operating conditions. Further, the study concluded optimum utilization of sludge as an additive to sludge-clay bricks as one of the available disposal options for SRM University sewage treatment plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]